Reward people when they do things that are of value to you, whether in the physical or digital space. That might mean paying them outright, or it might mean just having the mindset that you’ll return the favor somewhere down the line. I have lived long enough to know that when I choose to be generous with whatever I can, I usually end up having more in the end than I started out with.
Discussion
Quid pro quo
No. “Quid pro quo” would be me doing something for you with the expectation that you’re going to do something for me. That is not generosity.
One of the reasons I'm with you is that I like what you provide. The second is because a little over a year ago, when I made my first comment on Nostr, you zapped me with my first Sats. And those Sats were my first EVER. 🫂
You have to throw something behind you, to stumble upon something in front of you. Old folklore wisdom.
Very well said 👏🏻🫶🏻
If generosity is just a strategy to come out ahead, its not very appealing, even if it works.
Generosity is a mindset for approaching your own interactions with others, not a “strategy” for getting more out of people.
You said, "I usually end up with more..."
Sounds like a strategy.
I can’t control how you choose to misinterpret my words.
Does anyone else think I misinterpreted something?
Who else are you talking to? We are having a conversation here. 😂
I think the poster was just making an observation - “looking back whenever I have given more I seemed to end up actually getting more”
I think the strategy is to be generous (give it away) but the outcome may be the strategy fails (you receive more than you gave).
I wrote “Fails” which is not really correct at all; sorry; I meant the strategy worked (you gave) but the outcome was a surprise (you had more in the end)
Coming back to this because I want to be sure my point wasn’t missed here. The point is not that this is some strategy to “get more” back. The comment was an observation, looking back on my own experience, that being generous is not a zero sum game, and therefore we shouldn’t be reluctant to be generous on the basis that we won’t have enough for ourselves.
Okay, I get that. It does seem to always flow back with some extra. Being generous is never a source of stress.
I think “I usually end up with more…” is an observation. And maybe nostr:nprofile1qqs03ekxgdp0rczjfqrrpcn7zqtdec6lcwnpfesyxnl0f239qvege2gpzfmhxue69uhhqatjwpkx2urpvuhx2ucpz3mhxue69uhkummnw3ezummcw3ezuer9wcpvmk49 is only trying to tell us what has worked for him.
It might or might not work for someone else.
Sometimes we can get stuck in words or semantics, just like we sometimes get lost in being overly greedy and don’t let go of a few coins for something that has been really helpful to us or has made us happy.
Think of a musician on the street, creating atmosphere. You can decide to just consume, and that’s ok, but if you share something that wont hurt you, but it will contribute something to that person.
Same with open source. You can just use it, but if you contribute, you will end up getting so much more by learning how things actually work.
I would normally not respond so much.
But I have been a victim of thinking it is just a strategy in my past. And thought I could share a different view.
Maybe this time invested is a form of contribution.
💜🫡
Absolutely agree with this perspective. True appreciation isn’t just about money—it’s about respect, attention, and the return of positive energy. The world runs on the exchange of human value—sometimes material, sometimes spiritual. When we learn to create value and recognize it in others, we build a chain of growth, trust, and loyalty that inevitably circles back to us.
This generous mindset isn’t a sign of weakness, but a mark of deep maturity and inner strength. Thank you for the reminder. The world thrives on this kind of healthy, committed energy.
Energy finds its way ⚡️
That’s a powerful mindset. Generosity creates a cycle—when we give with sincerity, it often comes back in unexpected and meaningful ways.
The power of general reciprocity!